Machine Quilters! Are You Following this Blog?

Do you love, love to machine quilt? If you do then I hope you are following Leah Day's blog on a daily basis.

Leah started quilting a new free motion design every day and plans to introduce a new free motion design for 365 days! That's quite a challenge! Can she do it? Stay tuned in and find out! Today is Day 32!

Here is the link to Leah's Blog

http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/

She is very inventive with her beautiful quilting designs, and usually has videos of her free motioning. It's fun to check in each day and see what she has come up with! Inspiring!

We Will Never Forget

As I woke up and stretched and splashed some water on my face, and made a beeline for the coffee, and looked out at the peaceful morning while it steamed and the wonderful aroma of morning coffee filled the kitchen and I took that first sip I glanced at the calender and remembered what day this is. How sometimes it feels like only yesterday this horrific event happened, and how sometimes it seems so long ago and I almost feel like maybe it really didn't happen---like a bad dream. But, then I know I will not forget---and my thoughts wander to to the day it happened. Sept. 11, 2001.

It probably started just like my day for so many families getting ready for work. Children getting back to school, on a balmy Sept. morning and I remember and say a prayer for all the survivors, their families and the brave firefighters.

We shall not forget you and all that you did on that memorable day.

New Mat, new Muslin, new Markers

I've been replacing rotary blades more often than not lately. I just couldn't figure it out. Skipping cuts, not cutting. So, I started looking at my cutting mat. An Olfa. I date my mats when I buy a new one---well, I hadn't bought a new mat since 1999!!! No wonder it felt flat, hard--almost brittle. I was cutting on a "dead mat". I mean it had no bounce at all...rotary blades need some cush to cut like they should. Wow, what a difference...when was the last time you bought a new cutting mat?

I got this new Fiskers double sided one on sale at JoAnn. 50% off sale last week. I have the yellow side showing, the other side is mint green. Nice!



Yesterday I went back to JoAnns because believe it or not, (I could hardly believe it myself!)---I had NO MUSLIN! What is a quilter without muslin? Shameful I think, especially since I told Mary I was going to start a String Quilt for her String Quilt Project. The base for the string quilts is muslin! I could have used an old sheet I suppose, but I still believe a quilter should not be without a stash of Muslin, somewhere in her sewing room! :o)

I mean not a smidgeon of it anywhere. So, I stocked up on nice Kona Muslin, and also some of the less expensive stuff too.

I checked out the sale on air and water soluble marking pens too. I used up my last blue wash out on the whole cloth quilt. Picked up a few other goodies too.

Fairfield 80/20 Queen size batt on sale for another. I've never used this brand of 80/20 packaged batting before! Feels softer than Hobbs. Anyone used this?

The Snuggle flannel was on sale, so that lavender purple print on the bottom of the muslin stack is for the baby quilt I just finished. I love flannel backed quilts! Especially for babies! :o)

Quilt Tops

I finished piecing these two quilt tops---but I don't want to sit and quilt them. I'm going to wait for the new long arm to arrive instead.

Arriving in October

It was bittersweet as "Rosie" was loaded into the back of the new owners truck, and she headed down the driveway. I could feel myself saying---run after them and tell them you changed your mind!

But, I didn't....

I have felt it was time to upgrade to a new quilting system that could help ease some of the aches and pains in the neck and back which are probably made worse by my bending over the frame and the lack of adjustable machine handles among other little details which didn't help. Poor posture.

I've actually been thinking about a new long arm for several months now. It was the big decision to sell "Rosie" that was somewhat difficult as she has a memorable history from her previous owner, Rose Ottolini, and the many wonderful quilts Rose made for the children at Oakland Childrens Hospital over the years that she owned the machine.

I always felt Rose was looking down as I quilted a community project and nodding her approval and blessings on it. "Rosie" the long arm was really always Rose Ottolini's machine, I was just lucky to use it for a time..I'm sure the new owner, Susan, will love her as much as I have.

I've been emailed, phoned and messaged asking what are you going to buy now that "Rosie" is sold?

Well, it has been somewhat confusing. I already had an ABM Innova long arm picked out, or so I thought before I sold "Rosie". The 18" Innova.

But, after talking to the dealer and the rep. I soon realized this particular model was going to be too small compared to "Rosie". 18" of arm space sounds like a lot at first---but then you minus the 2" inch metal take up roller, add another minus of an inch or two for a quilt rolled up onto the roller and you are talking maybe 14" inches of actual quilting space as you roll the quilt and stitch along.

This would never do, especially since "Rosie" had a 20" inch arm. So, back to the drawing board and the 26" Innova became the second option---or so I thought until I realized that this particular model sits on a rather large frame that would jut out into our living room a full 65" inches! That is "living large"! any way you look at it. It just was not going to happen. I love having the frame at the far end of the living room by the large window, and the room is adequate with space for a sofa, a couple of chairs, entertainment center.


But, adding a really big frame would be a bit overwhelming in the room.

Since ABM Innova has no "inbetween" model, like a 22" or 24" inch machine with a smaller width frame---the whole idea of buying an Innova just disappeared. Poof!

But, then I remembered what I had really wanted long before I found "Rosie". I dug through my files, and there it was. The 24" inch Prodigy long arm. Hydraulic lift table, power take roller. Good lighting and visibility. Advanced digital stitch regulator. Micro handles. Adjustable power control handles....and an excellent reputation for quality in the long arm machine industry. Sort of my dream machine all rolled into one. How wide is the foot print of the frame sitting where Rosie used to be?....a perfect 46" inches wide! How much better could it get? !

So, in October the new long arm, The Prodigy will arrive.



I know unless you are a long armer, it may be hard to relate to the total perfection, excitement or beauty of this shiny metal frame and machine! But, it really is going to be wonderful!

During the waiting period I will be just as busy cutting, piecing and dreaming quilts in preparation for the new long arm to arrive. I've got plenty to do! I'm so excited! Happy Dance!

Whole Cloth Quilt

This is the last quilt I finished on "Rosie". I was literally unpinning as the new owners who purchased "Rosie" arrived.

This quilt has been a challenge due to the fact that there really are no "stitch here first"---"stitch here next" type of directions with whole cloth quilts as I found out. I was lost at first as to where to start a line of stitching and where I would end up if I started in a particular spot.

Like should I do the heart motif first?---or the feather near the base of the heart?---or maybe I am supposed to do the daisy motif and work my way back down the flower stem? It really is different than quilting on a pieced quilt where you are free motioning and have the reference lines of individual sections of the quilt block to stitch from one area onto another area of the quilt.

By the time I rolled and quilted into the center section of the design, I had pretty much figured it out. But it did take awhile.



This is a whole cloth quilt design by Sue Schmieden at www.longarmconnection.com



I used Superior So-Fine medium beige thread top and bobbin and Warm and Natural batting which I like for wall hangings. The quilt measures 58" x 58" as I added the outer border swirls and elongated corner wavy lines.



It was fun to do, even if it was challanging at time. Lots of ripping out of stitches, and retracing lines went on. Let's say I have a new respect and admiration for quilters that do a lot of whole cloth quilts! Hurray!

Juggling Works in Progress

This is on the long arm for now. Hope to complete it today or tomorrow. My first whole cloth quilt on the frame. It's been a challenge.



This is the 3" tumbler quilt top finished and off the design wall---But, not quilted.


And these quilt blocks for a baby quilt are up on the design wall to be stitched together. Sashing & borders needed.



Works in Progress!

Searching for a Moon Glow Quilt Kit

Does Jenny Beyers "Moon Glow" quilt kit look familiar to you? Maybe it's something you bought at a quilt show, or from a catalog. Maybe you want to sell this quilt kit now because you're not going to ever make this quilt. Cleaning out your fabric and pattern stash? I would like to buy this quilt kit at a negotiated reduced price if you want to part with it.

I know the places that sell it new, but I'm hoping to buy it for less than the catalog prices. Email me if you have one to sell.

Update: I listed this ISO of a Yahoo group and have had several responses of kits that quilters want to sell. So, it looks like I have found one! Yipee!

Sold!---Rosie- My Long Arm is for Sale

-SOLD-

If you are interested in owning a nice long arm machine---She has been good to me! "Rosie" my APQS Ultimate II is for sale starting today. I'm finishing up a quilt, and then she is ready to move out of here. Rosie is not upset as she is looking for a new owner to love her! Not that I don't, but I'm upgrading to a newer machine in the near future, and Rosie would feel crowded with the new machine sitting next to her. She needs her space! Here is a brief description.

Ultimate II with Intellistitch IS/Turbo Stitch Regulator. Large 20" by 8" arm area . Smooth Edgerider wheels. V Groove tracking. Smooth operating carriage with built in Laser light. Front and rear handles and controls. Needle up/down/positionar. Flywheel cover. Size L bobbin. Will include many aluminum bobbins and 3 bobbin cases. Quilt EZ Stylus. Acrylic Hartley slide on ruler base. Four Kimmy Brunner clamps with Velcro side tension. Round 1/2" foot. Good visibility and lighting under the front handle assembly. 9' foot professional steel frame with wood surface and wood side roller mounts. Cotton duck leaders. Clear pantograph plastic cover. K-Kraft stand alone bobbin winder.

Well maintained and in good working condition. In use at the present time while I complete a quilt. Sorry, I can't ship due to the heavy table. "Rosie" needs a new loving home.

Price: $4800.00

What's Ready for Pickin!

Gravensteins are ready Jana! Bill picked four 5 gallon buckets yesterday! (Jana is our daughter in law who makes great tasting pies! ) They are early this year! Come on down! Cool evening and misty mornings have produced a bumper crop.

The Golden Delicious apples are next---hanging out until we finish with the Gravs'....

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